My Darlington Story

From the first time I stepped foot on Darlington’s campus, I knew it was somehow different than other schools I had attended before, and the test of time proved that right. Darlington is not just a school. Darlington is the home of faculty and students from all over the world including myself, and it is where I have grown up for most of my life.

When my parents approached me for the first time about Darlington, we lived in Richmond, Virginia, and the thought of moving ten hours away from my family and friends was mortifying. My attitude and demeanor quickly changed, however, when I hopped out of the car on Darlington’s campus, and I was welcomed by many members of the faculty and staff along with their children. I could feel the sense of family that I was to be apart of, and I was more than excited to start a life here.

As a faculty child, I have lived in between both the day and boarding halves that make up Darlington since I was eight years old. I lived in an apartment connected to Moser until I was in the fifth grade, and then I moved into Thornwood and still reside here today. I have always said that it smells much better in Thornwood than it did with the smelly boys of Moser, but both the boys and girls that I have met from both dorms have really touched and changed my life. I have learned about so many different cultures, heritages and lifestyles from places like Hong Kong, Denmark and Germany, that I have really opened my eyes to new things, and I believe that’s what makes me the person I am today.

I came to Darlington ten years ago. I was in the second grade, and although I have gotten taller, matured and my amount of knowledge has expanded, I feel very thankful every time I walk out of my door in the morning to go to school. I know that Darlington isn’t like other schools. It is my home, and the place that has really shaped me as a human being. I wasn’t able to see this when my parents approached me about moving here, but through my experiences and time spent at Darlington I know there is nowhere I’d rather be than here.